Air circulating system



y 3, 1950 A. N. TURNQUIST 2,509,022

AIR CIRCULATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2; 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1950 A. N. TURNQUIST 2,509,022

' AIR CIRCULATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 25, 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //YVE/Y role #4 sxmvome A4 70 ?40/57" Arrae 1Y5 X Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

AIR CIRCULATING SYSTEM Alexander N. Turnquist, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Application January 25, 1946, Serial No. 643,459

2 Claims. 1 My invention relates to improvements in compressor systems.

My invention relates more particularly to a system and apparatus for building up air pressure by means of a plurality of aligned com pressors by the use of more or less of which the pressure may be increased or decreased as desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for providing air under pressure by the use of a plurality of aligned cylinders operated from a continuous source of power.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described wherein the cylinder and associated parts are removable and replaceable so that one or more may be employed at a time with a minimum of efiort to set up the system for that purpose.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder and pump construction which is self-contained and unitary, so that it may be removed and replaced by a similar one with a minimum of time and effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for creating air pressure that is so constructed that the desired pressure may be, controlled by cutting in or cutting out one or more of a plurality of aligned cylinders.

A further object of the invention is to provide in association with apparatus of the type described improved means for connecting together the operating parts of an aligned row of air pressure cylinders.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings upon which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a compressor system and the apparatus therefor constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through one of the cylinder units taken generally on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view thereof taken generally on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the pistons which I employ;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the piston rod segments;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of one of the couplers used in connection with the piston rods and is taken generally on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a modified construction of the cylin- 2 der wherein I employ a diaphragm instead of a piston.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, I have shown an air intake conduit I!) which may have sets of side outlets l2, l4 and [6 extending therefrom. Each outlet is controlled by a valve l8 which is connected by a coupler member 20 to a fitting 22. The fittings 22 are connected upon opposite sides of the vertical walls 24 and 26 of a cylinder member 28. The cylinder member 28 may be formed with a cylindrical housing portion 30 to provide a chamber 32 between the end walls 24 and 26 and the housing 30. The end wall 26 may have a pair of ports 34 and 36 with suitable flap valves 38 and 40 provided for the ports. A pipe fitting 42 secured to the wall 26 may con meet with a valve member 44 which, in turn, connects with the T-member 46 in the air outlet line 48. In a similar manner the cylinder wall 24 may have a port 5!] and a port 52, the ports being provided with the flap valve 54 and 56 respectively. A pipe fitting 58 secured to the cylinder wall 24 communicates with a valve. secured to the T-member 62 in, the outlet line 48.

Each of the cylinders 28 is provided with a piston 64 mounted for reciprocation upon a shaft or piston rod 66. The piston rod 66, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, may be provided at each end with a reduced collar 68 spaced from the end 16 thereof. The piston rods 66 are connected together in a straight line alignment by means -of coupling members 72 which comprise the half sections 14 and i6 pivoted together upon a pivot member 18 with their opposite ends locked together by means of a bolt member 80. The collar members have sections which engage in the grooved portions 68 of aligned piston rods to securely lock the same together.

The end piston rod 66 may be supported in a pair of bearing members 82 positioned upon the base 84 of the apparatus. The end of the piston rod 66a may be connected to a driving rod 86 which is oscillated by means of any suitable source of power.

In the operation of the mechanism which I have described, when the piston rods 66 are oscillated they will move the pistons 64 back and forth in the cylinders 28. In the stroke to the left, as shown on the drawings, 'air will be sucked in from the inlet l0 through the port 34 and be pushed out into the reduced outlet conduit 48 through the port 52. Upon the stroke to the right, air will be sucked in through the port 50 and pushed out through the port 36 thus build- 3 ing up the pressure which is being forced out through the outlet conduit 48.

While the piston 64 may be of any suitable or desirable construction, I prefer to construct it in the manner shown in Fig. 4. In this construction I split the piston rod 66 into the parts 66b and 560, the parts 660 having a tapped opening 90 and the parts 661; having a threaded stud 92. These parts fasten over a pair of metallic disc membersf93 and :94separated by a spacer 96-.and secured attheir outer edges to a ring'98 preferably formed of leather or similar substance.

In referring to Fig. 2 the base 84, which may continue the length of the apparatus, is provided with a plurality of pedestals I09 to which brackets [02 connected to the sides of the cylinders"28,are bolted. In this way each of the cylinders .is securely locked into position on its individual set of pedestals.

From the foregoing description it can be seen thatizif-sone of the cylinders "28 becomes broken or out of order the valves 8 may be shut as well :as'the valves 44 andthe apparatuswill-operate as .aiunit without the use of the particular cylinder thatis broken or is not working. If, for-example, itisdesiredto replace one'of the-cylinders 28,-the flttingsrzfl and valves 44 are disconnected from the same and a new-'cylindermay beesubstituted. 'The piston rod couplers l2 are, of course, sepan'atedso'that the :old pistonrod, together with the cylinder, may :be removed 'as a .unit and a new piston and piston rod positioned in place. This makesasimple matter tozremoveandreplace broken or non-operating pistons or :additional *p'istons may be positioned in line in "the event higher air pressure is necessary.

Thecompressor-system, which I have described, may be particularly adopted for air "conditioning 'in 'the homes. Air under pressure-may be pumped through the high pressure outlet 48 into the various rooms ofthe house and, in this manner, an air-conditioning plant results. Thereare also a :great many other uses to which the said invention may apply.

With-the system which Ihave described,.a continuous fiowof air or other fluid'under pressure results, due to the reciprocating action of the pistons in the cylinders whereby there is a continuous-suction of air from theintake .and a continuousforcing of air under pressure through the outlet conduit. I also contemplate that the apparatus described can readily be adapted for use in pumping water or other fluid under pressure. The only possible changes which might be necessary being in the construction of the "valves and pistons. inherently, however, the :s'tructure will remain the same whether used "for pumping water, air or other fluids.

In Fig. 7, Ihave shown a modified construcition of the cylinder '23 wherein I employ a diaphragm [M instead of the piston 54. In this construction the flexible diaphragm Hilhas its outer :dge I06 securely fastened between the flanges 1980f the'twoisections 28a and 28b of the-cylinder. Its inner edge may be fastened between .a pair of washers ll!) mounted on the shank 92 of the piston rod section 66b. The balance of the construction may be generally similar to that described .in connection with the preferred form :of the invention.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention and the details thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with apparatus for circulating fluid under pressure which includes an intake conduit, an outlet conduit of a different size, a row of compressors positioned in a straight line and situated between said inlet and outlet conduits of a piston rod extending through all of said compressors, a piston on said rod in the chamber of each compressor, a hub on said piston having a bore therethrough, means connected to the end of said piston rod for reciprocating the same and inlet and outlet valves associated with said compressor whereby fluid is sucked into the chambersof the compressors and then forced out at a higher pressure, :said piston rod being constructed of a plurality of sections,-coupling means to connect said sections together-end to end, one section-extending through each compressor, a portion of each of said sections having a reduced threaded bolt extending through the bore of the hub of a piston and the other portion .havinga tapped bore to receive the-bolt whereby each piston is connected to and between aligned piston .rod sections.

.2. The combination with apparatus for cir culating fluid under pressure which includes an intake conduit, an outlet conduit of a different size, a rowof compressors positioned in a straight line and situated between said inletand outlet conduits of a piston rod extending through all -,of.said compressors, a piston on said rod in .the chamber of eachcom'pressor, a hubon said piston havingia bore therethrough, means connected to .the end of said piston rod for reciprocating the .same and inlet and outlet valves associated with said compressor whereby fluid is sucked into the chambers of the compressors and then forced outat a .higher pressure, said piston .rod being constructed of a plurality .of sections, coupling ,means to connect said sections together end to end, one section extending through each compressor, a portion of each of said sections having .a reduced threaded bolt extending through .the bore of the hub of .a piston and the other portion havingla tapped bore to receive the bolt whereby each piston is connected toand between aligned piston rod sections, each of said piston rod sections having a reduced collar at each end, .sai'd coupling means being in the form of split coupler members having recesses to receive adjacent collar portions of said pistonrods.

ALEXANDER N. TURNQUIS'I.

REFERENCES CITED {The following references are of record'in the file of "this patent:

UNITED .STATES PAEEENII'S Number Name Date 665,222 Isler Jan. 1,1901 847,470 Gray Mar. :19, 190.7 1,408,092 Keller Feb.128,:1922 1,508,568 Nelson Sept. :16, 1924 

